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Inverter question

We have a Freedom 2000 inverter that 'some one' installed since 1994.

Without shore power you can turn it off in the kitchen.

With shore power it is on all the time.

Question:  With shore power and the inverter on,  is all AC power coming from the inverter ?
NO...the roof ac's don't work off the inverter but every thing else does.

Another question:  stayed two days & two nights using inverter power, no generator.  On the 75 mile trip home the coach batteries stayed at 11.7 volts ???  They normally show about 14 volts while driving ?  * They are back up now with shore power.
Thanks for the Help..........~JL~

Re: Inverter question

Reply #1 –
Our 225 had very little that needed 120v.  Is your inverter not also maybe your battery charger, and you are seeing it come to life when you plug in?

Seems that when plugged into shore power, it would be best to use the park 120v directly.  Using an inverter for 120v, seems to follow the path of:
120v. charger to the batteries 12v, then 12v from the batteries thru the inverter back to 120v, to be used. 

My DW had the inverter on to charge her cell phone going down the road.  I explained, the huge engine alternator was making 12v, to the 320# of house batteries, the inverter was taking 12v. out and making 120v. for the wall plugs, the phone charger plug then was reducing 120v. down to 3v. or something to recharge the 2oz. phone battery.  We got a phone car plug out of the truck at the next stop.

As I have read, house batteries that are way down can take a long time for the engine alternator alone to recharge.  It was suggested that running the generator for a while can save damaging the engine alternator while it is trying so hard to get the engine and coach batteries recharged.

Re: Inverter question

Reply #2 –
Yes Dave the Inverter is charging the coach battries.
The old 'converter / charger' has been removed.
Our propane generator has a starting problem that I just not have addressed yet.
( Too busy using the coach )
Thank...........~JL~

Re: Inverter question

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Johnnie & Susan Laird –

Our propane generator has a starting problem that I just not have addressed yet.
( Too busy using the coach )
Thank...........~JL~

Funny to read that.  We never see someone post, "well we used it up, and just wore it out".  Good luck with trying to do so.  I read that John S wants 400,000 miles before he feels his is wore out.  I am 5K over 25% of the way, going as often and much as possible.

Re: Inverter question

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Johnnie & Susan Laird –
We have a Freedom 2000 inverter that 'some one' installed since 1994.

Without shore power you can turn it off in the kitchen.

With shore power it is on all the time.

Question:  With shore power and the inverter on,  is all AC power coming from the inverter ?
NO...the roof ac's don't work off the inverter but every thing else does.

Another question:  stayed two days & two nights using inverter power, no generator.  On the 75 mile trip home the coach batteries stayed at 11.7 volts ???  They normally show about 14 volts while driving ?  * They are back up now with shore power.
Thanks for the Help..........~JL~

Sadly the answer is that there are a number of ways to wire an inverter.  Not sure our guessing how someone wired yours will help.

Best answer is that there is a breaker on your main breaker panel supplying the inverter. AND all circuits you want to be able to power from the inverter when no shore power is available are wired from the OUT of the inverter-- through a sub-panel is best.

When you determine how yours is wired, we can certainly help.

Also be CERTAIN that it has been properly programmed/dip switches set.  If not, you can ruin your batteries, as it is both an inverter AND a battery charger.

Brett

Re: Inverter question

Reply #5 –
Sounds like the altenator was not charging the house batteries, might be the isolator

Re: Inverter question

Reply #6 –
I replaced the old TayTronics inverter with a somewhat larger Samlex unit recently. The old unit had a switch in the kitchen that let inverter power go in either of two directions. Obviously that no longer works, and I haven't played with the system enough to know for sure what is and what is not powered by the inverter. The new inverter has a remote head that will, among other things, let me turn the inverter on or off without crawling into the black hole. For now I'm going to mount that in a convenient spot in the basement bay, but eventually I'll get it put upstairs somewhere. The question for now is whether I should leave the inverter on or off. The next trip I'm going to see how it does running the new refrigerator while we're driving, so I don't have to run the generator.

Re: Inverter question

Reply #7 –
A little more information:  The Freedom 2000 by Xanterx is both repeat both an inverter and a charger.

When it sees an external source of 120 VAC from either shore power or generator, it does two things: "passes through" the 120 VAC to the circuits downstream of the inverter and also operates as a smart charger to charge the house battery bank (assume it is wired to the house bank).

So, with shore power on, you should see both shore power voltage (i.e. pure sine wave and around 120 VAC and battery voltage should be 14.2 to start with (bulk mode) and taper off to (float mode) to low 13's.

Suggest you read your Xantrex owners manual or download it from Xantrex's website.

Re: Inverter question

Reply #8 –
Freedom 2000 is normally only a modified sine wave inverter without shore power and is normally only a battery charger when shore power is connected. Never both at the same time. So normally nothing will be powered from inverter (& batteries) when on shore power.

Normally only the inverter can be turned off or on with front panel switch

Normally the battery charger is on when shore power is connected, but with a change of a DIP switch located on back of display panel, the charger can be turned off with front panel switch when shore power is connected.

Re: Inverter question

Reply #9 –
Thanks to All,
Mark & Barry,  I think you answered 99% of my question.  I.E. the 120V ac 'passing through' while inverter is on with shore power.
I want the option of turning the 'charger' off .  I believe it is the correct mode ( dip switches in correct position )
'They' may have the inverter on a breaker with some stuff that I don't want turned off.  Will add a dedicated breaker if that's the case.
Red Tractor,  I was concerned that the engine alternator appeared to not be charging the coach battries.................. ^.^d ...........~JL~

Re: Inverter question

Reply #10 –
Many of the Xantex units can be programmed (dip switches) so that you CAN turn on/off both the inverter and the charger function with the remote on/off switch.

Have you read that portion of your Xantrex manual (also available online)?

Re: Inverter question

Reply #11 –
Thanks Mark,
I read the 'Owner's Guide' again (third time).
It says you can turn it off.
I'm just afraid to mess with the thing since it seems to be working fine.
Evidently it doesn't hurt to charge the big gel cell coach battries in the 'Float Mode' for a couple of weeks at a time ???
Thanks again.........~JL~

Re: Inverter question

Reply #12 –
If this is a three stage regulated charger, as I suspect, and if the float voltage is within the battery specs, it is good to keep it on the charger indefinitely. Measure the voltage at the battery terminals after it has been charging for a couple of days to make sure.

Re: Inverter question

Reply #13 –
It is a 3 stage charger .
Been on shore power 3 days now.
Voltage at the battery post is 13.58 !
Thanks..........~JL~
 

Re: Inverter question

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Johnnie & Susan Laird –
It is a 3 stage charger .
Been on shore power 3 days now.
Voltage at the battery post is 13.58 !
Thanks..........~JL~

My next two questions are what float voltage is your battery speced at and is your charger adjustable?

My batteries are Lifeline gels, rested to take a float voltage on 13.1-13.4 volts. Your float voltage would be a tad high for my batteries.